People

Meet the Spirit & Place team!

Erin Kelley is a public historian and the Executive Director of Spirit & Place, based at IU Indianapolis. Spirit & Place uses the arts, humanities, and religion to foster connection, reflection, and civic life through year-round public programming and an annual community-wide Festival.

Kelley leads the organization’s programming, partnerships, and strategic direction, working closely with community organizations, artists, scholars, and civic leaders to create accessible, values-driven public experiences. She is a certified Civic Reflection Dialogue facilitator and trainer and has played a central role in developing signature initiatives centered on dialogue, democratic practice, and community capacity-building. She is also launching a new civic reflection and dialogue initiative on IU Indianapolis’s campus, strengthening connections between campus and community.

Across her career, Kelley has focused on designing thoughtful, intentional events that help people find connection and meaning in the world around them. She holds degrees in sociology, history, and public history and previously served as the Education and Community Engagement Director at the Indiana Historical Society. She is a longtime volunteer and past president of the League of Women Voters.